A week in review & thank you

I’ve thought a lot about this post in the last 7-8 days. Like a lot a lot.

It’s incredibly tough since it’s so personal and has been a traumatizing and stressful experience to grow through in the last month.

A week ago today on my birthday I threw out everything that was left of my life, packed up the dogs and some essentials/clothes, and began a 31 hour 1800 mile drive across the country. In one shot with only one stop for 20 minutes of sleep.

A three year toxic relationship that turned so abruptly malicious contributed to the decision, and made it feel like I had no choice. 

It was either let a narcissist ruin my future or take matters into my own hands to preserve what was left and undertake this journey. 

I wish things were different and could’ve ended on much different terms, everything being so haphazardly thrown together and falling into place was a blessing, but it never felt like it was on my terms. I often found myself thinking to myself that "this isn't how I wanted things to end", to no avail. You can't try to understand a narcissists' motives or illogical decision making, let alone when someone seems intent on trying to break you down and ruin your life.

Less than a week later after my arrival at 11:30PM 4/28/2021, my soul feels rejuvenated, and while I don’t have much of any materialistic means in my new place, I’ve never felt so blessed that I was able to make the trip in one safe shot, be able to start a new job with great people, and had such TREMENDOUS support from former coworkers, friends, and even some candidates along the way. I wish words could really convey how much your love & support kept me going through the sheer exhaustion to keep on pushing to stay positive, but also to mentally will myself to not stop until I got there.

It’s a terrible feeling when you feel like you’re being driven out of your home and don’t have a say in the matter, and I can’t even count how many times I teared up and even cried over the past week. Not tears of sadness or because the personal hell that I feel like I've lived in for the past month finally feels like its mostly behind me, but tears of gratitude to have the opportunity and means to be able to cut ties and run like hell. I’m just so grateful and humbled by this experience, the support, and the confidence people have shown in me throughout this period in my life.

While one chapter has come to a close professionally, a new one has just started, and I won’t forget the companies here that said that “I had too much baggage” or “that the timing didn’t seem good right now”. As any employer should be cognizant of, the talented employee that you liked but didn't hire for whatever reason, there is another one who is willing to take that risk and hopefully reap the reward, and as a candidate who is going to compete with you in this market, I know I certainly am not going to forget.

I’m forever grateful for the grace my former employer showed, and willingness to take on the risk of having me open a new office in a new market, and for that I know words won’t ever do it justice. I doubt that if anyone bothers to read this far down from there that you'll get this far, or even care since I still left. However I truly can't thank you enough from the bottom of my heart for everything over the past 3 years, and even now the willingness to do what you said you were going to do still means so much. Thank you again and I'm sorry that the timing wasn't in our favor.

I’m indebted to Unity for being aware of my baggage that I was going through as I was interviewing and for recognizing that even at one of the lowest points in my life over the last 8 years, there was enough potential there to roll the dice and take a risk and invest in me. I was the perfect trifecta of a stressnado going through a breakup, job change, and moving across the country, and the message that was sent was: "we believe in you, we believe you will add value here, and we believe that you can be an asset to our work family". THANK YOU!! Not only for the vote of confidence, but the belief, and for taking the risk and bringing me into the family, I'm so eager to show everyone that it was the right decision and that your investment/vote of confidence in me is not going to disappoint.

DALLAS!!!! I don’t know many of you here yet and I can’t wait to start getting to know y’all and making some magic happen in this incredible city ? 

Looking forward to getting to know this wonderful state and the people here as time goes on!

And on a final note which goes for everyone, male, female, or whichever gender you identify with: if you are in a toxic, emotionally/physically abusive relationship. Talk to people about it, they are going to help you. You are not alone, and that behavior is not acceptable, and you don't need to tolerate it.?